For some, the darker evenings and chillier weather means an exciting lead up to Christmas. 

For others less fortunate around the world, it can be a lonely time of year. 

People across Weymouth and Portland have been hard at work once again providing donations for this year’s Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal. 

Each year, people are asked to fill shoeboxes with soft toys, toiletries, woolly hats and gloves, and other gifts for the appeal to send to children living in poverty throughout the world.

Gill Greenwood has overseen the collection of boxes from across the borough on behalf of Easton Methodist Church on Portland.

On Saturday, Portland Sports’ under 13 football team descended on the church with colourful boxes packed with gifts for boys and girls aged from two to 14. They were joined by St John Ambulance Badgers.

Gill said: “We get a lot of support from community groups, individuals and families. We are the official collection point for Samaritan's Purse.

“I have a lady from Weymouth who collects gifts for the appeal throughout the year and I have got stuff ready for next year’s boxes already. 

“People in these countries can’t believe that children from hundreds of miles away are thinking about them. 

“I always encourage people to put a soft toy in there. 

“It’s simple things that a 14-year-old here might say they don’t want, but it’s something children in need will never have had. I sometimes put a postcard of Portland in too.”

Gill said the church has already collected around 200 boxes with more due to be donated throughout this week.

Tomorrow, church youth worker Ben Moss will dedicate some of the boxes before they are sent off for distribution. 

Gill added: “I really want to thank everybody who supports this appeal.”

Since 1990, around 146 million children in more than 150 countries have been given shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child.

Terry Shakespeare, leader of the Badgers group, said: “We have been doing the shoebox appeal for many years. 

“They do understand that this is all the children who receive the boxes are going to get. It’s just magnificent.”